0:00:20 > 0:00:30Order. Order. Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet office and
0:00:30 > 0:00:41the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Question number one.Mr
0:00:41 > 0:00:52Damian Green.Our national cyber Security strategy supported by £1.9
0:00:52 > 0:00:56billion of transformation investment sets out measures to defend our
0:00:56 > 0:01:02people, businesses and assets, deter adversaries and develop cyber
0:01:02 > 0:01:21skills. These include investment into...Public services... Cyber
0:01:21 > 0:01:25security requires constant investment, so has he advocated for
0:01:25 > 0:01:27long-term funding for public services to defend themselves
0:01:27 > 0:01:33against all forms of cyber attack? Yes, indeed, that is the point, not
0:01:33 > 0:01:38just of the cyber Security Centre, but the significant investment I
0:01:38 > 0:01:43have mentioned, £1.9 billion, which is set to transform the defences
0:01:43 > 0:01:49across the public sector, not just central government, but local
0:01:49 > 0:01:51government, particularly the health sector and the defence sector as
0:01:51 > 0:01:56well as giving advice to the private sector because our defence against
0:01:56 > 0:01:59cyber attack obviously need to be mutually dependent across both
0:01:59 > 0:02:08sectors.Would he accept it as a lack of clarity of who in government
0:02:08 > 0:02:13has responsibility for cyber security, is it not time we had a
0:02:13 > 0:02:16cyber department to defend the nation again cyber attacks and think
0:02:16 > 0:02:25about ways it can be used abroad?We do obviously need proper
0:02:25 > 0:02:30coordination, and the coordination role does fall to the Cabinet
0:02:30 > 0:02:34office, but there are important areas where the Home Office has
0:02:34 > 0:02:39direct responsibility for operational matters, and the
0:02:39 > 0:02:45ministry depends as well, in military terms. I am happy to the
0:02:45 > 0:02:50coordination comes from the Cabinet office.As we have just come to the
0:02:50 > 0:02:59conclusion that cyber influence that is entirely invisible and beyond
0:02:59 > 0:03:05mechanisms to control it, as the Prime Minister has said, there was
0:03:05 > 0:03:09influence in the elections and probably the referendum elections,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13isn't it time for us to decide that we should not have faith in those
0:03:13 > 0:03:18two results and we should look for another referendum because second
0:03:18 > 0:03:27thoughts are always better than first thoughts?He raises a serious
0:03:27 > 0:03:31point, I should say that there is no evidence of any successful attempt
0:03:31 > 0:03:37to interfere with electoral processes, and indeed cyber attacks
0:03:37 > 0:03:41are particularly difficult to make against what is undoubtedly an
0:03:41 > 0:03:46old-fashioned system that requires small pencils and putting crosses on
0:03:46 > 0:03:49pieces of paper, but that old-fashioned system is a very
0:03:49 > 0:03:55effective defence against cyber attack.To defend ourselves against
0:03:55 > 0:03:59cyber attack, it is essential we recruit or train people with
0:03:59 > 0:04:05necessary skills to take up the cudgels in a cyber arms race on our
0:04:05 > 0:04:09behalf. What steps is government taking to bring these people into
0:04:09 > 0:04:16the public sector?He makes a good point. The national cyber Security
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Centre along with GCHQ has established a programme of
0:04:21 > 0:04:28assessment and certification, and 20 degrees have been certified, most of
0:04:28 > 0:04:34them postgraduate Masters in cyber security, and 14 universities are no
0:04:34 > 0:04:39academic centres of excellence in this. This will help maintain a
0:04:39 > 0:04:48pipeline of people.The news of a hack involving a database involving
0:04:48 > 0:04:53tens of millions of people has to be investigated, but there were 9000
0:04:53 > 0:05:00data breaches by the government in a single year, according to the NAO,
0:05:00 > 0:05:08and they only notified 14. This poses questions about our personal
0:05:08 > 0:05:11privacy and security, and given the scale of what is happening with the
0:05:11 > 0:05:18Internet, there is clearly need for further protection to the public,
0:05:18 > 0:05:22but last year the government... Order, I am sorry to interrupt, we
0:05:22 > 0:05:27are very pressed for time, we need a sentence of a question.We have to
0:05:27 > 0:05:39press on.Last year the government announced it spent only 2 billion of
0:05:39 > 0:05:45the... Will he get on in spending the money and protect citizens?
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Guess, we will do, in the ways I have set out. He will realise that
0:05:50 > 0:05:58the 1.9 billion is to be spent over five years, so the fact we have
0:05:58 > 0:06:02spent 230 million in the first year is about what you would expect. This
0:06:02 > 0:06:12is a continuous programme of continuous improvement.I would like
0:06:12 > 0:06:21to congratulate Her Majesty the Queen. The Duke of Lancaster and his
0:06:21 > 0:06:28Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on their royal wedding, and for the
0:06:28 > 0:06:32public service they have paid to the country. Her Majesty pays tax on all
0:06:32 > 0:06:37income received from the Duchy. The investment strategy is based on
0:06:37 > 0:06:41advice and recommendations from their investment consultants.One of
0:06:41 > 0:06:45the revelations we saw in the Paradise papers was investment from
0:06:45 > 0:06:52the royal estate in the shambolic company Bright House, which preys
0:06:52 > 0:06:59upon many constituents in my -- upon many of my constituents.What is he
0:06:59 > 0:07:06going to do about it? The investment in Bright House was through a
0:07:06 > 0:07:14third-party, equating to £3208, and represents 0.0006% of the Duchy's
0:07:14 > 0:07:24value.Could he confirm that some of the comments the opposition have
0:07:24 > 0:07:28spoken about regarding investments started under the last Labour
0:07:28 > 0:07:32government? Bearing in mind what the Shadow Chancellor said at the time
0:07:32 > 0:07:38the statement was made, perhaps he should have checked that out because
0:07:38 > 0:07:47I can confirm the last investment made was in 2005.Donations to
0:07:47 > 0:07:52political parties should differences between our party and the
0:07:52 > 0:07:58government's. They are dependent on the ultra-wealthy few, in light of
0:07:58 > 0:08:06the Paradise paper revelations that showed that Lord Ashcroft... Will he
0:08:06 > 0:08:16be accepting donations to the party? This does not pertain to the Queen
0:08:16 > 0:08:28was my private estate, so we will press on.All of government is
0:08:28 > 0:08:32preparing for the UK to make an orderly and successful exit from the
0:08:32 > 0:08:35European Union, and we are equipping ourselves with the right people and
0:08:35 > 0:08:39skills across government to make it happen. While workforce planning is
0:08:39 > 0:08:44primarily the responsibility of each department to determine, we
0:08:44 > 0:08:50constantly review its capabilities in this respect.After a decade of
0:08:50 > 0:08:54austerity it seems that £400 million and 8000 new staff can be found for
0:08:54 > 0:09:01Brexit, including 5000 at HMRC, so will she tell Treasury -- Treasury
0:09:01 > 0:09:11and HMRC
0:09:11 > 0:09:17bosses, regarding the closure of the Cumbernauld tax office.We are
0:09:17 > 0:09:23looking to use won make the best possible use of resources to provide
0:09:23 > 0:09:27the best service for constituents. With the additional burdens on civil
0:09:27 > 0:09:32servants from Brexit, with the Minister agree that the civil
0:09:32 > 0:09:37service people survey is important to ministers for judging the working
0:09:37 > 0:09:42conditions, training and skills of civil servants? Would she share my
0:09:42 > 0:09:48-- surprise that are representative yesterday said that he actively
0:09:48 > 0:09:54encouraged members not to reply to the survey? Can she reaffirmed that
0:09:54 > 0:09:56the survey is increasingly important so we can get feedback to have the
0:09:56 > 0:10:04right capacity and capability is in our civil service?I thanked her for
0:10:04 > 0:10:08that question, she is absolutely correct that the survey is of
0:10:08 > 0:10:11crucial importance to ministers. I greet it with relish when it arrives
0:10:11 > 0:10:15at my desk providing valuable information about our workforce,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19their attitudes and how they feel about working for us. I am surprised
0:10:19 > 0:10:23about the comments from the PCS, but I would like to reassure unions that
0:10:23 > 0:10:28I continue to lead my door open to them and I am as interested in their
0:10:28 > 0:10:34views as everyone else's the remarks from the very eminent senior four
0:10:34 > 0:10:40civil servant -- civil servant Martin Donnelly who set up the new
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Department for commercial trade, and will she take heed to his warning
0:10:45 > 0:10:49that we are now just 16 months from Brexit, the biggest shock to the UK
0:10:49 > 0:10:55economy in living memory?
0:10:55 > 0:11:01I'm sure it will come as no surprise to him that the Cabinet office works
0:11:01 > 0:11:04closely with those departments most closely affected by the exit from
0:11:04 > 0:11:11the EU, which includes trade, DEFRA and others. I have seen the comments
0:11:11 > 0:11:14but I would like to reassure him were making sure we have the right
0:11:14 > 0:11:22people in place to deliver the successful transition we need.The
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Cabinet Office is supposedly coordinating this country's exit
0:11:26 > 0:11:31from the European Union. They really ought to know this stuff. The
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Minister has not answered a question. Is that because she
0:11:33 > 0:11:38doesn't think Parliament is entitled to the information about how many
0:11:38 > 0:11:43staff are working on this? Or is it because the processes such a
0:11:43 > 0:11:49shambles that she is unable to provide the information?I thank him
0:11:49 > 0:11:55for the question. We have already created 3000 new roles, of which
0:11:55 > 0:11:582000 have been filled. Further roles will be created and the Cabinet
0:11:58 > 0:12:05Office is working most closely with those departments most affected.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10With permission, I will take questions for six together. The
0:12:10 > 0:12:15government is currently considering the 256 responses to our call for
0:12:15 > 0:12:24evidence on the accessibility of water registration. I have recently
0:12:24 > 0:12:32implemented the funding is from an accessibility review.2014 survey
0:12:32 > 0:12:36found that 60% of people with a learning disability find the process
0:12:36 > 0:12:40of registering to vote too difficult. Registration forms are
0:12:40 > 0:12:45often complicated and not accompanied by an easy read guide.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48The election commission report published this month agrees and
0:12:48 > 0:12:55calls on the Minister will he commit to improving the government's on
0:12:55 > 0:13:01online registration process? And ensure that there is a good helpline
0:13:01 > 0:13:07is on the one with a learning disability is disenfranchised?
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Mencap have been working closely with the Cabinet Office. We are
0:13:11 > 0:13:13member of accessibility to elections working group and I wouldn't
0:13:13 > 0:13:18disagree with the premise is the question that we need to do more in
0:13:18 > 0:13:21the 21st century to make sure our elections are accessible for
0:13:21 > 0:13:25everyone and we remove those barriers in place for those people
0:13:25 > 0:13:29who are disabled. I'm committed to doing so. It's right we now consider
0:13:29 > 0:13:34all those responses. We will be publishing our response next year.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39There are millions of people missing from electoral registers. And high
0:13:39 > 0:13:45levels of support for reforming our electoral registration system and in
0:13:45 > 0:13:48particular for automatic vote registration when a person receives
0:13:48 > 0:13:52their national insurance number. When is the government going to
0:13:52 > 0:13:57implement necessary reforms to ensure our democracy works for the
0:13:57 > 0:14:01many and not just a few?We believe we need a democracy that works for
0:14:01 > 0:14:05everyone, which is why were determined to introduce a democratic
0:14:05 > 0:14:09engagement strategy published in December. When it comes to those in
0:14:09 > 0:14:16the electoral register, we have a record 46 million people registered
0:14:16 > 0:14:27to vote. We have 30 million people registered to vote before the system
0:14:27 > 0:14:34was introduced. I believe it is a remarkable success.What measures is
0:14:34 > 0:14:38the government taking to ensure that people do not vote twice in general
0:14:38 > 0:14:42elections?Any form of electoral fraud will be taken extremely
0:14:42 > 0:14:46seriously by this government. Intend to implement a number of
0:14:46 > 0:14:51recommendations made by the report from Sir Eric Pickles on securing
0:14:51 > 0:14:54the ballot. Double voting is a crying. Anyone with evidence should
0:14:54 > 0:14:59be reported to the police. I recently met with the Electoral
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Commission and the police Chiefs Council and we will meet every six
0:15:03 > 0:15:08months. We hope by introducing future reforms into postal voting we
0:15:08 > 0:15:16will be able to tackle this issue of double voting.40% of people who
0:15:16 > 0:15:26applied late to vote have been suggested to be duplicates. Can he
0:15:26 > 0:15:32look at ensuring they don't get unnecessary duplication, so as to
0:15:32 > 0:15:37reduce bureaucracy?Years right. We had nearly 3 million applications to
0:15:37 > 0:15:42register at the last minute during the last general election. There are
0:15:42 > 0:15:49local solutions. In Hackney, they have a tool for you can look up. It
0:15:49 > 0:15:53is right we explore further what solutions there may be. When it
0:15:53 > 0:15:58comes to a centralised database, I believe this might end up being too
0:15:58 > 0:16:01costly.According to figures published by the Electoral
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Commission, nearly 11,000 people tried to vote on a June but they
0:16:05 > 0:16:10found they were not registered at the polling station. Will the
0:16:10 > 0:16:15government pilot the idea of polling day voter registration to ensure
0:16:15 > 0:16:20that every eligible voter is entitled to vote?The government
0:16:20 > 0:16:25sincerely believes in the principle of individual electoral
0:16:25 > 0:16:34registration. May want a register that is complete and accurate. The
0:16:34 > 0:16:42accuracy of the register has risen from 87% to 91%.We are committed to
0:16:42 > 0:16:47providing a clear and secure democracy. Were continuing to work
0:16:47 > 0:16:52with local authorities to deliver voter identification pilots in areas
0:16:52 > 0:17:03such as walking, Tower Hamlets and Watford.Many people believe online
0:17:03 > 0:17:06voting may have some potential for the future. Can the Minister tell me
0:17:06 > 0:17:12what his assessment is on online voting, in light of allegations of
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Russian electoral hacking?I believe the UK system is one of the most
0:17:17 > 0:17:27robust in the world. We operate a manual voting system. It ensures our
0:17:27 > 0:17:32system is protected and our democracy safeguarded.Will the
0:17:32 > 0:17:39government consider using clever -- credit reference easy data to
0:17:39 > 0:17:44improve electoral register accuracy? He makes an interesting point. I'd
0:17:44 > 0:17:47be interesting to go away and look at the matter he raises. Were
0:17:47 > 0:17:52looking at issues when it comes to tenant security deposits, for
0:17:52 > 0:18:00example. One of the largest groups are movers and renters. That cause
0:18:00 > 0:18:08is that churn, which is why were determined to better data, so we can
0:18:08 > 0:18:22identify areas of improvement.There was a 300% increase in proxy votes
0:18:22 > 0:18:32in the foil constituency. Many people said it was a clear case of
0:18:32 > 0:18:35electoral fraud and theft of a constituency in this House. What
0:18:35 > 0:18:45will he do to ensure it doesn't happen again?Electoral fraud, it is
0:18:45 > 0:18:49important we have confidence in our democratic system going forward. We
0:18:49 > 0:18:54will be looking at absent voting arrangements, postal vote harvesting
0:18:54 > 0:19:02and will be introducing future legislation to tackle this.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Following the Prime Minister's announcement in July that a public
0:19:06 > 0:19:10enquiry will be held into the contaminated blood scandal,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13government sought views from the affected community on how this
0:19:13 > 0:19:18should operate. I announced on third November the enquiry will be
0:19:18 > 0:19:21statutory and sponsored by the Cabinet Office. My department has
0:19:21 > 0:19:28now taken receipt of over 800 consultation responses which it is
0:19:28 > 0:19:34thoroughly analysing. I will make a further statement before the House
0:19:34 > 0:19:40rises for Christmas.Could he confirmed what this government is
0:19:40 > 0:19:49doing to open up public sector contracts to SMEs?What we are
0:19:49 > 0:19:53developing is a system called contracts Finder, a free online
0:19:53 > 0:20:00source for current and future contracts above £10,000 in central
0:20:00 > 0:20:04government and £20,000 in the wider public sector. We are improving the
0:20:04 > 0:20:14visibility of supply chains via this site.When was the ministerial code
0:20:14 > 0:20:22last quality proofed and by whom? The Prime Minister has committed to
0:20:22 > 0:20:25reviewing the ministerial code, to ensure it remains fit for purpose
0:20:25 > 0:20:33and she will update the House in due course.As we leave the European
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Union, public appointments are going to become more important than ever.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Can my right honourable friend tell me what the government is doing to
0:20:40 > 0:20:46make sure we get a greater diversity of people appointed to public
0:20:46 > 0:20:51appointment, especially from outside the south-east?The government is
0:20:51 > 0:20:55committed to greater diversity on the boards of public bodies to
0:20:55 > 0:21:09better represent the people they serve.The Minister is in charge of
0:21:09 > 0:21:13cyber security. He knows the Prime Minister is worried about Russian
0:21:13 > 0:21:19interference in our political system. Can you assure the House
0:21:19 > 0:21:26that the Russian capital has not seen the budget secrets?I am as
0:21:26 > 0:21:33confident as I can be that that is the case. We will all share the
0:21:33 > 0:21:40secrets of the budget in 35 minutes' time.There is far too much noise in
0:21:40 > 0:21:51the chamber. Let's hear Mr Lee Rowley.With the Minister be able to
0:21:51 > 0:22:00confirm how employers in my constituency can be helped to win
0:22:00 > 0:22:03government contracts?I thank him for that question. Our small
0:22:03 > 0:22:08business panel whom I met on the 1st of November to celebrate their first
0:22:08 > 0:22:12birthday are working on a number of key issues to break down barriers.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17It was pleasing to hear from them that contracts Finder and the
0:22:17 > 0:22:31mystery shopper service are in their words stonking lay good.
0:22:33 > 0:22:40Private exam boards are not subject to freedom of information rules. I
0:22:40 > 0:22:43want the government provide transparency to all providers of
0:22:43 > 0:22:49public services?The honourable gentleman has written a letter to me
0:22:49 > 0:22:55and I hope he has received my response. The government obviously
0:22:55 > 0:23:08updates information regularly. We will keep this matter in mind.
0:23:11 > 0:23:18Ministers like me are passionate about making sure people get a
0:23:18 > 0:23:24ballot at Paris, town or district level. Does he agree with me that it
0:23:24 > 0:23:29is important we have polling cards at every election, so people can
0:23:29 > 0:23:33play their part in the electoral process?The government is insured
0:23:33 > 0:23:40to committing that as many people as possible are engaged with the voting
0:23:40 > 0:23:45system. We have no plans to change the current arrangements on polling
0:23:45 > 0:23:51cards.The gender pay gap is going in a quarter of government bodies.
0:23:51 > 0:24:05How is this setting the rest of the country an example?Departments will
0:24:05 > 0:24:08be publishing the new gender pay gap figures before the end of the year
0:24:08 > 0:24:14to meet requirements of the government's new regulations for all
0:24:14 > 0:24:18major employers. It will provide unprecedented transparency, generate
0:24:18 > 0:24:23wider debate and encourage employers to take the action required to close
0:24:23 > 0:24:31that gap.The union needs Scotland's two governments to get things done.
0:24:31 > 0:24:39One of the proposals is to co-locate all customer facing public services
0:24:39 > 0:24:47in sterling to a public sector innovation Hub. Will the Minister
0:24:47 > 0:24:51commit to working with the Scottish Government to bring this about?I
0:24:51 > 0:24:57was delighted to be lobbied hard by my noble friend when I visited
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Stirling on this and other matters. The Department for Work and Pensions
0:25:01 > 0:25:04is committed to maintaining its current estate in sterling for at
0:25:04 > 0:25:08least the next five years and obviously we can discuss future
0:25:08 > 0:25:20options. Heads turn for the Stirling and Clackmannanshire city deal next
0:25:20 > 0:25:26year.In his written statement on the contaminated blood enquiry, the
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Minister said a further announcement will follow before the end of the
0:25:29 > 0:25:33year on the setting up of the enquiry. Those affected by this
0:25:33 > 0:25:38tragedy have not been given any information about what this means.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43Can see clarify, does he intends to appoint an enquiry cheer by the end
0:25:43 > 0:25:49of the year?The honourable lady raises a very serious point. The
0:25:49 > 0:25:53contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s was an appalling
0:25:53 > 0:25:56tragedy which should not have happened. She will appreciate that
0:25:56 > 0:26:01not only did we receive 800 responses to the consultation but at
0:26:01 > 0:26:05the request of the all-party group, the end of that consultation was
0:26:05 > 0:26:10delayed until October. All decisions on the chair and other things that
0:26:10 > 0:26:11need to be